Abington offering Certified Recovery Specialist training this fall

ABINGTON, Pa. — Penn State Abington will offer a 54-hour training program this fall for individuals who are interested in obtaining the Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS) credential to help others move through the recovery process.

Abington provides the training that prepares participants to take the CRS exam and become certified by the Pennsylvania Certification Board. The courses run from Sept. 8 through Dec. 1.

In order to be empathetic and to understand the culture of addiction, the recovery process, and the pathways to recovery, a CRS must have lived the experience themselves.

To gain some insight as to why this certification can be a life-changing experience, Penn State Abington Continuing Education spoke with former Abington student Anna.

Anna, who is in long-term recovery, graduated from Abington with a psychological and social sciences degree. While attending a training seminar about addiction and stigma, a friend told her about the CRS program and how it could open more doors for her.

For Anna, the CRS experience was transformative.

“It broadened my knowledge of addiction and strengthened my understandings of concepts I learned in classes at Penn State,” she said. “I was able to gain a deeper understanding of how addiction not only affects the individual, but also the family unit and the community. It reinforced my cultural competencies and helped me grow professionally. I developed connections to others in my profession throughout this program.”

Today, Anna is employed with the Malvern Institute, a private addiction treatment center. She seeks to “instill hope and motivation to live a life of recovery.” She sees her CRS certification as a stepping stone since she will begin a master’s program in counseling in the spring.

Learn more about CRS certification or other health care certification programs online or contact Theresa Bloom at 215-881-7402.

About Penn State Abington

Penn State Abington provides an affordable, accessible and high-impact education resulting in the success of a diverse student body. It is committed to student success through innovative approaches to 21st century public higher education within a world-class research university. With nearly 4,000 students, Penn State Abington is a residential campus that offers baccalaureate degrees in 19 majors, undergraduate research, the Schreyer honors program, NCAA Division III athletics, and more.